The recently evicted houseguest says he’s “much more nervous” about meeting America’s parents.
Why does he think that strategy didn’t work?
Where did his game go wrong?
Cory Wurtenberger on ‘Big Brother’.CBS
And what’s next for Americory?
We asked, and the newly minted, still-mustachioed jury member answered.
Read the interview below or watch the video above.
Cory and Jag on ‘Big Brother’.CBS
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You said you’ve been preparing for the moment you’d have to campaign against America.
How would you describe your campaign strategy, and why do you think it didn’t work?
CORY WURTENBERGER:Yeah, the campaign was really difficult.
America and Cory on ‘Big Brother’.CBS
It’s a really hard pitch to make.
It obviously didn’t pan out.
I think Cirie was down.
Ultimately what it came down to is Matt and Jag.
Jag couldn’t vote, but I couldn’t get Matt.
Blue [has wanted] me out for a month.
So then I only have three votes to campaign for: Cirie, Felicia and Bowie.
Bowie is scared to go against Matt and Jag.
But the reality is me being next to America is always a tough pitch to make.
I knew it was an uphill battle.
I did my best, but it was never really gonna happen.
The Izzy vote I stand by.
I don’t know if it was the right move.
Even when I was making the decision, it didn’t make that much sense.
I don’t think it mattered much either way.
So Felicia looked like a much more attractive option to Matt and Jag than I did.
Meme and Blue is too big of a competitive block.
So I thought, “Whatever, just get rid of the bigger threat.”
Keeping Felicia after she yells at me is kind of funny, but that was probably a bit shortsighted.
Are there any players you’d consider a dark horse to win it all?
I think people are still underestimating him despite his stature.
People still think Jag is the guy, but Matt is absolutely the guy.
I think Cirie is someone who you really just can’t count out.
On a one-to-one personal relationship level, she is the best player to have ever played reality television games.
So that’s always gonna be challenging.
And I think America has a really reasonable chance at this point.
She’s been horribly underestimated this season.
Maybe because she’s a woman in a showmance, maybe because she’s little bit fiery.
But she’s obviously extremely intelligent, and a massive fan of the game.
I think especially with me gone, she has a great chance to make a good run.
I don’t think I have much say in this.
I think they’ll be at the finale and so will America.
I love her."
Like, it’s gonna be very awkward.
I’m much more nervous about meeting America’s parents than I am about her meeting mine.
They’ve already had a kid on reality TV.
There’s not gonna be that much whiplash for them.
But that’s gonna happen on Nov. 9, everyone.
You lasted longer onBBthanyour brother Zach didonSurvivor but you were backdoored.
Do you think you still have reality TV bragging rights in the family?
Well, let’s be honest.
I think my mom has reality TV bragging rights over my brother.
He was there for three days.
He got 17th place.
Much respect to you, Zach, you got screwed in your tribe formation for sure.
The being backdoor thing, everyone gets backdoored onBig Brother.
Cameron was backdoored twice.
I was double backdoored by two vetoes.
That’s kind of cool.
I think when it comes to these kinds of games, my brother is better than me.
He’s just a nicer, more extroverted, amicable dude.
I definitely have the reality TV bragging rights.
But let’s be honest, that’s more of a testament toBig Brothan it is to me.
But I think I did a good job, relatively speaking.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
